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Banana Seed Germination ForumAs one of the toughest seeds in the plant kingdom to figure out the keys to germination success with, this is a forum with banana seed germination tips. Please entitle posts like "Musa balbisiana," or "Musa cheesmani," etc. People would then post a reply under that heading, sharing their germination successes (and failures), what materials and methods they used, germination percentage, etc.

Hello all, this is my first post. My name is Nick and I live in Virginia. I am crazy about most plants but the Musa basjoo is what got me into banana plants in the first place. I discovered how cold hardy they were and decided I had to have one. I bought 2 4" potted basjoos online but that was not enough for me. I then bought 2 large ones for $45 apiece from a nursery and later 6 medium sized ones for $100 total. My good friend at another nursery gave me over 150 (not even exaggerating) and it's safe to say I finally have enough. I also have 1 zebrina and a dwarf cavendish that grew a ton this summer. And I also received a musa aeae in the mail today as well.

I recently discovered Musa ingens (as I must have the tallest of everything from the Mexican Cardon cactus to the Coastal Redwood). Unfortunately, they are essentially unattainable and supposedly will not live outside of Papau New Guinea's climate. So, I did some research and settled for the next best thing, the Musa Itinerans var Gigantea, growing up to 40ft in height and being surprisingly cold hardy.

After eons of searching Google, I narrowed the results down to seriously only 2 websites that sell seeds and only 1 site that sells live versions. After researching some more, I decided the live plant option was out, since they were simply selling the basic Musa Itinerans and passing it off as the Gigantea (according to a Bananas.com thread. So I settled with the seeds (what option did I have left?) I tried seedman.com after investigating and feeling they were trustworthy, and ordered 15 for $17.

I received them in the mail today and am soaking them in water for 24 hours. Only 2 are floating (which generally means a seed is not viable), so that's good. I have prepared a moist (not soggy) glass jar full of soil for them and as soon as they finish soaking, I'll put them in, close the lid to seal in the moisture, and wait. I will keep you all updated if I do or do not make any progress. Wish me luck!

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Update: I spent 3 hours locating/removing the seeds. I had sterilized the soil beneath but forgot to sterilize the last handful I placed on top.

I had also read they do well when planted 1 inch below the soil, so I sterilized the soil, placed the seeds/moisture back into the jar (after cooling), and then put about 3/4" soil on the very top. I used clear cooking wrap to seal off the jar and then put the glass top onto the jar.

Now I have no worries about fungus/mold growth and I can let them sit.

I'm also getting a heating mat for them today and will use it 8 hrs per day.

New update... placed them into smaller mason jars a month ago so I can periodically check on them without having to search for hours in all of the soil of the previous jar... been using lava lamp base turned on its side (with aluminium foil underneath to keep from catching my desk on fire... ha) about 4 inches away to heat them (I was too cheap to buy a $125 heating mat online). BUT, out of 15, one looks like it's sprouting. No green yet but there is about a 1/4 or 1/2 millimeter of white coming out from the eye on all sides! And it appears to be pushing the top of the seed eye away from the rest of the seed. And yes, I checked and it is not pearlite or any fungus... it definitely appears to be coming from the seed. Removed it carefully and placed in a 3 inch tall (tiny) plastic pot. Lightly showered some soil on top of the seed and watered it. I also put the small pot within range of the getto heater to keep it warm for several hours throughout the day.

Not promising anything, but I am hoping it's on it's way to becoming a 40ft banana plant!

Also, even if it is sprouting, there is no way to know if it's in fact Itinerans v. Gigantea or some other type of banana seed they (or their supplier) tried to trick me with. I will keep a close watch and hope for the best. Wish me luck! I'll let you know in a few days to a week if it's doing anything new or not. If not, I'll gently remove it and look at it again. I may even just transfer it to a plastic bag to avoid disturbing the possible roots forming. I have seen numerous posts of people doing that and having success.

But if I can get it to grow, I can eventually start sharing this super cool nana species with people in the US and even get a tissue culture going! How cool would it be to have the 2nd tallest banana plant finally growing in the US??? (Aside from people claiming to have them growing here but being too stingy with them... ha)

Dang.. well seedman.com seems reliable according to reviews of many other plants so I am hoping for the best. Only the 1 that appears to be sprouting is in the bag.. the rest are in the jar. Apparently some seeds actually do take years to germinate.. so if nothing happens and I give up all hope, I'll just put them in a shady area this summer in the jars and see what happens. Worth a shot at least.

It's 100% sprouting.. I'll post a picture in a day or 2.. a little white (solid) bump is slowly coming out of the eye. Only 1/15 of the seeds have begun sprouting so far but I'm more than OK with that! May even post a picture tonight if my camera can even focus in that far.

Now let's just hope 1. I don't kill it and 2. that it's the even the right banana type and not just some random banana seed (haha)

update.. purchased 15 more and moved to a shorter jar with a wider lid. the one from the picture above is 100% growing.. white/brown solid growth is forming. can't wait to see how it does! will take pictures once it pops out of the soil. 40 foot tall bananas, here i come! haha

Update.. I think the one in the pic died but I see another sprouting and this time I will not touch it! That may be what killed the other one (roots being destroyed). When the seeds get the fungus looking stuff it means they are growing.. at least I am learning. Will upload pictures when it gets some green on it.

Thank you but you did not burst my bubble whatsoever. Before disturbing the roots for the picture, the seed was clearly producing solid portions which were protruding from the eye. Last time I checked, rot does not function in that manner (as observed in the picture you referenced). Also, it's *radicle*, FYI.

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Bananas.org is owned and operated by fellow banana plant enthusiasts. We strive to offer a non-commercial community to learn and share information. Receive all three issues from Volume 1 of Bananas Magazine with your membership:

nope but i shuffled the jar around and 3 new ones have sprouted.. will post pics when they grow! and break through the soil! i have learned the key is to wait haha got them almost a year ago.. and with banana seeds the key is to forget about them. they've been in a jar set on a heating pad since i got them and now i leave them outside in the shade.. if they break through the soil this time i will definitely give a detailed description of how i made them germinate

Wow I was so stubborn when I posted about this.. trying again from seedman.com.. and Richard I actually ordered a Saba a week ago and am so excited. It seems like it's the 3rd largest banana plant according to my research

Right now the seeds are in vermiculite this time.. sitting in the shade outside. I used a file to scarrify them. If they sprout and aren't xishuanbannaensis I'm going to be pissed.. I'll be able to tell from the red petiole sap and red/brown pseudo. Been hunting for this bad boy forever. Lol